I don’t call her out on her bluff about Nana because a part of me doesn’t want to really face the truth. “But Mom,” I respond-and I really have no idea why, at this point, I’m even trying anymore- “don’t you think it’s a little lame to leave me…with Graham?”

I’ll be back and it’s not like you’re off for college or something. “Oh, honey.” She turns around, slapping a hand over her heart and feigning a touched smile. Maybe get some one-on-one mother and daughter quality time.” “We were supposed to spend April with each other,” I ground out. She does a little shimmy with her shoulders that makes me want to gouge my eyes out, but I still eye her from my bed unimpressed. I always forgive her for talking to me like this. You ain’t got the tits to fill it out.” She peppers this sentence with a smile and a wink, thinking I’d forgive her for bringing me down. She just rolls her eyes and says, “It looks better on me, anyway. She doesn’t even look guilty or attempt to come up with an excuse. She doesn’t freeze like I thought she would.

Why do you need a bathing suit? More specifically, why do you need my bathing suit?” Of course, I can’t help but taunt her about it.

Nowadays, she resorts to alcohol and weed, and everyone knows how pot gives people the munchies. She’s been filling out since Graham married her and made her go off the blow. She opens my drawers without a warning, snatches one of my bathing suits that’s already a size too small for her and glues it to her chest, trying to see if it fits. I’m sitting on my bed, listening to music when Mom busts through my door and starts rifling through my stuff. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): Health Coverage for International Students in Australia

Stepdaddy Savage by Charleigh Rose